Background: Depression is a common public health problem among elders worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and disability. This study aims to assess depression and its associated factors among elderly in old-age homes and a community of Kathmandu district.Method: A comparative cross-sectional study recruited 122 elderly from old-age homes and a community of Kathmandu district. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-short scale (GDS-15). Socio-demographic and medical history was collected using semi-structured questionnaire. We utilized bivariate logistic regression to assess the association of depression with each variable. Results: The prevalence of depression among elderly in old-age homes was 74.6% and in community was 41.8%. The study found that elderly residing at old age homes were four (OR=4.087; 95% CI=2.373-7.038) times more likely to have depression than those residing in the community. Age was found to be associated with depression among the respondent of both settings. In old-age homes, not receiving old-age allowance, bad perception of life, bad social relation, having a chronic disease, lack of care from family, stress and weeping as stress coping strategy were associated with depression. In the community, stress, non-involvement in family decision making, feeling of neglect, dysfunctional capability, bad social relation, lesser monthly income had positive relation with depression.Conclusion: Depression is highly prevalent among Nepalese elderly, with higher burden in those living in old-age homes. This emphasizes the need for screening of depression among elderly, to initiate early intervention measures.

Background: Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a public health issue and is recognized as serious violence of human right worldwide. It is an ongoing social injustice to women. The impact of domestic violence on pregnant women is increasingly recognized as an important public health issue that has serious consequences for their physical and mental health. Hence the present study aimed to explore prevalence and predictors of Gender Based violence. Methods: The hospital based cross-sectional study using face to face interview was carried out in All – Healthcare Centers of Madi Municipality of Chitwan District, Nepal. 215pregnant women attending Antenatal clinics (ANC)were selected for study. We used Pearson’s chi-square test to investigate the effect of explanatory variables on domestic violence among pregnant women by using IBM Statistical software version 20. Results: Among 215 pregnant women attending Antenatal clinics there were 68.4% (147) pregnant women who faced any kind of domestic violence (either sexual or physical or emotional). Result shows that the domestic violence among pregnant women differ significantly with age group(χ2=6.46, p = 0.039) , education level of respondent(χ2= 12.45, p = 0.002) , occupation (χ2=11.3, p = .001) , family income(χ2= 13.4 , p=0.014) , presence of own property (χ2= 6.80, p = 0.033) , interest for pregnancy (χ2= 14.03, p < 0.001), husband’s consumption of alcohol (χ2= 25.94 , p<0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of domestic Violence among pregnant women was found unacceptably high which ultimately foster risk to the mother and fetus health. Factors like age, educational level of the pregnant, family income, husband drinking alcohol habit and interest of the pregnancy among couple had profound relationship with domestic violence.

Background: Teenage pregnancy refers to any pregnancy from a girl who is 10-19 years of age. This study aimed at accessing the factors influencing teenage pregnancy at first birth among the Dalit ethnic groups in Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study using face-to-face interview method was carried out in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Chitwan, Nepal. A total of 217 married Dalit women who had given birth to at least one child and who were less than 25 years of age during the survey were considered as a sample. The data was collected from October 1st 2020 to 31st December 2020. We used Pearsons Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis to assess the factors influencing teenage pregnancy among Dalit ethnic groups in Bharatpur Metropolitan city, Chitwan. Results: Among 217 married women of Dalit ethnic groups, there were 93(42.9%) married women who gave birth to their first child during teenage years and 124(57.1%) women gave first birth after crossing the teenage years. Results show that teenage pregnancy at first birth differ significantly with mother’s education level [Just Literate (OR = 5.88; CI = 2.53-13.69)], Husband’s education level [Just Literate (OR = 3.06; CI = 1.33-7.02)], Husband’s occupation [Unemployment (OR = 7.87; CI = 2.17-28.46)] and Husband’s age at marriage [ ≤ 20 (OR = 6.01 CI = 3.27-11.06)]. Conclusions: Carrying out advocacy against teenage marriage & teenage pregnancy as well as implement­ing comprehensive sexuality education and safe motherhood education targeted to Dalit ethnic groups is the need of the hour.

Background: The quality of the senior citizens has become a public health concern. The Quality of the life of senior citizen is affected by many factors. Among them one of the strong factors is social security allowance. Misuse on social security allowance and dissatisfaction is increasingly recognized among senior citizens hence, the present study aimed to explore satisfaction with and utilization of the old age allowance among older people. Methods: The Community based cross-sectional study using face to face interview was carried out among senior citizen in Bharatpur Metropolitan ward no -6. Asystematic Random sampling method was used. We used IBM Statistical software version 20 to carry descriptive and bivariate analysis. Results: Around 134(77.4%) respondent mentioned that, they were capable to spend their Social Security Allowance themselves. Senior citizen was satisfied with the social security allowance given by government while 38.7% were unsatisfied. Satisfaction status of social security allowance significantly associated with living condition [with familymembers (COR=3.18; CI=1.54-6.57)], occupation[other than farm (COR=2.18; CI=1.16-4.09)] Conclusions: The Social security Allowance for senior citizen is a necessary and proper utilization can give important contribution to older people connected with family and community.

Background: Chhaupadi practice, which is characterized by banishment of women during menstruation from their usual residence due to supposed impurity. The Chhaupadi custom is also known as ‘chhue’or ‘bahirhunu’ in Dadeldhura,Baitadi and Darchula,as Chhaupadi in Acham, and as ‘chaukulla’or ‘chhaukudi’in Bajhang district.The aim of the study was to find out Socio demographic factors associated with Chhaupadi practices among adolescence girls of Mangalsen Municipality, Acham Nepal. Methods: The community based descriptive cross-sectional study using face to face interview was carried out in Mangalsen Municipality, Acham Nepal. 221 adolescence girls (10-19) years were selected by simple random sampling. The total duration of data collection was one month from 2074/01/07 to 2074/02/08. Data were collected using self-designed semi structured questionnaire. Collected data were manually checked then entered into IBM SPSS version 20.0 for Window. We used Pearsons chi-square test is used to investigate the effect of Socio-demographic variable on Chhaupadi practices during last menstruation period of adolescent. Results: Among 221 adolescent girls, there were 84.2 %(186) of the respondents were kept in Chhaupadi or slept at Chhau goth during entire last time menstrual period, Socio-demographic characteristics such as age (χ2=8.997, 0.001), mother educational level(χ2= 6.80, p=0.033), occupational status of respondent’s mother (χ2=4.20, p=0.04) ,type of family(χ2=5.20, p=0.022) were found to be significantly associated with Chhaupadi practice . Conclusions: Majority of the adolescent girls are still practicing Chhaupadi during menstrual period. Chhaupadi practice continues to exits in community because of illetracy,traditional belief system.To abolish Chhaupadi practice awareness and education at community level is required.